FEEDBACK FRIDAY – UP FRONT: FACING A HARSH FUTURE
FEEDBACK ARTICLE - UP FRONT: FACING A HARSH FUTURE
I’m a sportsman racer and you article is so on its scary. Most of us feel this is what happens when you have non racers trying to run nhra. They for the most part are clueless and it shows. So much of the fun has been taken away that the excitement I once had when going to a race has disappeared. They keep making it more and more difficult to even enter a national event. - Gary Humrichouse
FEEDBACK ARTICLE - UP FRONT: FACING A HARSH FUTURE
I’m a sportsman racer and you article is so on its scary. Most of us feel this is what happens when you have non racers trying to run nhra. They for the most part are clueless and it shows. So much of the fun has been taken away that the excitement I once had when going to a race has disappeared. They keep making it more and more difficult to even enter a national event. - Gary Humrichouse
While I do not always agree with Jon Asher's viewpoints, I do respect his opinions on drag racing as an industry and sport, and I always enjoy his to-the-point style of writing. Jon's most recent contribution definitely got it right. Hard times are already here for drag racing and our nation's economy, and it appears that even worse is to come. However, we should all remember that we've been there and done this before. I am absolutely confident that we will weather this latest test, and emerge stronger and better than ever. - Jim Hill
11-28-2008
Well said Mr. Asher. I've been a racer in Stock Eliminator for fourteen years. I
race because I love it. This year was a challenge with the fuel costs, but I
cut out a few races. Next year I many have to cut a few more. But that's ok I
feel fortunate to still be racing. NHRA is no different then any other company
in America. Corruption,greed and double digit profits are all they care about.
How many times will it be said "lay some poeple off so I can get my Christmas
bonus."Unfortunately this is the world we live in right now. Hopefully it gets better. Keep writing I'm reading. - John G. Gray Jr.
In response to the economic distress facing drag strips, I would like
to publicly state that our "family-owned" facility in Louisiana is
having the best year since we opened our gates three days after 9-11.
No Problem Raceway operates with a very small staff of qualified
individuals. My wife Linda handles all fo the office and website
duties, while I take care of all of the track work, accounting, and
oversee our construction and maintenance workers.
Did I just say construction? That's right. During 2008, we used
current cash flow to add another 1500-seat all-aluminum grandstand to
the spectator side of the track. We are also working to complete a new
covered outdoor concert facility. Total cost of the stands and
pavillion will be over $250,000. We have also spent another $100,000
upgrading our equipment.
Cash flow has been so good in 2008 that we were able to add an extra $100,000 payment to reduce our bank load priciple.
What makes our operation different from most track? Well for starters,
the owners are personally liable for the bank note, and the owners run
the facility. Next is diversification. We host drag racing, road
racing, music concerts, midnight racing, import racing, drifting
events, and any other type of action that fills the stands.
Some say my wife and I are just lucky. Our response is usually. "Yes,
you are right. However, it seems that the harder we work, the luckier
we get." - Pat Joffrion
I agree.I am skipping the 2009 Gatornationals for the first time in 26
years. Maybe NHRA will notice it at the gate when people do not show up.
They raised general admission prices for 09 rather than lowering them. - Rod Hunter
I am a 62 year old racer. My whole family is involved with the sport. I
have been reading Jon Asher for a long while. I agree with him on this.
The NHRA has to be proactive not reactive. They have to remember the
little guy that pays the
bills with ticket purchases and all the $$$ spent while attending events. - Ray Whitener
I am just a Fan of all Drag Racing (Pro, Sportsman, Bikes, even the Jr.
Dragsters and etc.) and the thought of anything happening to this sport
is terrible. I wish I could think of a way to get the executives to
see, that if they don't do something and soon that they won't have a
job and can join the executives of GM, Ford, AGI and etc....They can't
be that much of a bunch of idiots.
I worked at a National Event this summer and the FANS LOVE THIS
sport...they came from all over the world and brought friends, family,
their children, they were black, white and all races...you don't see
that at a lot at Indy and Nascar races, and some I hate to say, could
barely afford the ticket, but they came. I have been a fan of Indy car
& Nascar for along time....but the Drag Racing Fans....didn't just
come to get drunk...these Fans came to watch and never stopped smiling
and enjoying themselves (Again...THEY LOVE THE SOUND OF THOSE ENGINES).
If the executives could actually get out of their offices and see these
Fans...maybe they would do something so they will keep coming (lower
prices or something). Do they not realize that the Fans buy the
products the sponsors advertise on their cars.It's not just about
them...it's about us little guys....All of Us Fans.
Just a note....I sat and watched Mr. Lucas from Lucas Oil stand in 100
degree heat on the track and watch...not up in the suites where all the
other Corporation Big Guys are, but down with all the common people. I
do realize that he was watching Morgan, but hey some people wouldn't
have done that.
OK...Let me know what I can do to help? - Susie Kingery
11-21-2008
Hi Jon, As usual you are right on.
I have been trying unsuccessfully to get 3 of the top writers in drag
racing to write a book or a series of articles on the "business model"
of drag racing because I felt it was about to undergo a serious change
with the economic crisis. Try googling "business model" first with
NASCAR, then with NHRA included. Vast difference in number of hits!
Your article reminds me that I should have considered you in the top 4
writers to ask. You have summarized the near term impacts to drag
racing, fans, sponsers, venue promoters and sanctioning bodies, and
suppliers better than any article I have seen so far. Where the money
comes from and where it goes.
Drag racing will survive but I think a book or story about its changing
business model will help it survive and adapt to a very uncertain
financial future. - Henry Perry
Yes, NHRA should consider reducing the compensation lavished on it's
board members, but when has the NHRA looked beyond their own level of
comfort. I truly believe they look at the organization as serving the
management, not the customers. Racer participation and spectator
attendance will continue to decline as the economy worses. NHRA will
react (heaven forbid that they should be proactive) only when the
compensation of the board is at risk. They will blame the decline of
the organization solely on the economy. I'm willing to bet a large
portion of my declining 401K there isn't a mirror to be found in the
headquarters of NHRA. - Terry Friar, Former Sportsman Racer
While Asher made some good points in his editorial, the salaries of
the NHRA Board members have little to do with the overall picture of
NHRA drag racing. Further, drag racing survived before when Detroit
bailed out, and to even suggest that the sport will tank without them
is a joke. - Jason Milner
I think you should make it public what the board members earn. I
think they need to be "called out". Especially with the rediculous
championship purses the pros get. - Ed Hutchings
I agree with this article 100%, I saw the comments by WJ and
wondered if he was going down this path as well. Also the excutives at
the big three are doing the same as NHRA so if the racing budgets are
cut they are as much to blame as NHRA for not trying to control costs
and outrages bonuses. - Steve Patterson
Absolutely right on!! The NHRA seems to think it is above all the
economic rules that others follow. For example, how can they turn away
sponsors because one of their competitors has already locked in NHRA
advertising rights?
I think if the loyal NHRA racers and spectators would boycott the 2009
races it might make Tom Crapton and the rest of his money grabbing
staff sit up and take notice. I plan to. - John Martin
Thank you Jon Asher,
Thank you for continuing to educate the racers on the compansation of
the NHRA higher ups,As we forge ahead in these tough economic times and
racers remain loyal to this organization absorbing huge logistic and
racing costs, What are the racers getting in return for their efforts?
Personally I think NHRA and their practices are long overdue to be
exposed to the members and general public. Power comes in numbers , and
there is a whole lot more members than there is staff in Glendora. A
(completely unified effort), Top Fuel to Z/Stock Automatic could
cripple this strong hold on its members.It would take determination,
principle, an unyielding effort to bring forth this very apparent abuse
of revenue and (power?) by NHRA. You gotta have balls to shoot pool, So
who can we turn to, To lead an effort to begin to address all the
issues on and off the track that have been taking place for decades.
This situation needs to be confronted head on. We need it to start
happing now. There are several successful business owners in the pits,
But who wants to begin this task? - Bud Donato
Don't expect NHRA to overcome their egos to cost cut when it comes
to their own packages. The organization is not responsive to the needs
of the racers and to a lesser extent the sponsors. To give you an
example, the Divisional car counts are down. Expenses are growing,
especially travel. To race for two and a half days to finish one
Divisional should change. Two races in one weekend are much more cost
effective, such as IHRA has implemented. I honestly don't think that
the NHRA crews will commit to working the extra time! - Scott Davis
At the Finals last weekend we only attended Sunday because of the fires
in the area and had to buy general admission tickets with all the
reserved ticket being sold. It's not the $55.00 x 5 per ticket or the
$30.00 parking but the fact that there were no seats available in the
small section for General admission and they had the one of the big
sections blocked off on the pit side. We have been going to both races
each year at Pomona for many years but don't think we will go any more
NHRA really does not care about their members/customers - Butch Headrick
"No doubt the NHRA will cite their own rising costs and reduced
profits as reasons that such plans can’t be considered, and I’ll
readily acknowledge that the organization’s bottom line is far smaller
than some might imagine."
NHRA is a Not-For-Profit organization. Their bottom line should be
ZERO, as the organization was created as a way to safely promote the
sport of drag racing, NOT as a way to shield it's executives from
paying taxes on obscene salaries and perks as the way it is being
operated now.
"The National Hot Rod Association needs to tighten its corporate belt,
and one way of doing so would be to reduce the almost obscene financial
compensation some Board members receive for doing little more than
attending a monthly meeting. If Americans are vocally outraged by the
compensation paid to the executives on Wall Street and at companies
like AIG that we’re bailing out to
the tune of billions – a figure soon to be in the trillions –
supporters of NHRA should be just as outraged about the compensation
levels at the top of the organization."
Amen, brother. Amen. - Jason Oldfield
Very good article and way too much truth in it.
That being said I was reminded about a conversation that I had with my
Dad about 55 years ago when I was just a pup. While feeding the swine
on the farm, my Dad asked me if I knew the difference between Pigs and
Hogs?.......Being 8 years old I did not have a clue. My Father then
told me something that was not only accurate, but it was something that
would hold true for many situations as I went through my life. Here is
what he told.
"Pigs get fat, but Hogs get slaughtered!!" So you never want to be a
Hog, just a pig. Seems like NHRA should heed the wisdom of that
statement. - RJ Sledge
Once again, Asher hits one into the parking lot! I've got a room
reserved for 2009 Gainesville, but I'm not spending one red cent until
I see if there are actually going to be cars at the races.
Whatever you're paying Jon, it isn't nearly enough.yuk, yuk. You owe me a beer, Asher. - Bill Huseth
Great article, but if you think that the powers-that-be in the NHRA
are going to mandate a sizeable pay cut for themselves, then you don't
understand the concept of the "fox watching the chicken coop."
These people are not, by-and-large, former drag racers with a lifelong
love for the sport; they're suits that have a devotion to the bottom
line, their own pocketbooks, and little else.
If, due to their selfishness and negligence, drag racing suffers
immeasurably, and maybe doesn't survive, they won't lose any sleep over
it as long as they get their pound of flesh ($$$$$$$$$.)
Sad, but true...
Thanks for an excellent "wake up" article. - Bill Dedman
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